Holding Up The Ladder

We have come full circle and reached the end of season 3 - time really flies! I started this season expressing my desire to talk about social justice, racism and discrimination. I gave the example of…

Have you ever asked yourself the question - what is music? Does nature around us - the birds, the trees - make music? What is music supposed to do? I had never thought of these questions (and I didn’…

As we continue our conversations about the ways in which art and creativity can be used to bring about social change, I wanted to talk about how normalising the ordinary can actually be a form of act…

ADVISORY: This episode contains adult themes unsuitable for younger audiences

In this week’s episode of HUTL we’re talking about the idea of radical homelessness. Where do we find home? What does home…

Who gets to tell stories, who gets to tell your story? How does story relate to the body? What are the stories our bodies tell? These are some of the questions I delve into through the prism of Afric…

I’ve been thinking a lot about how Black culture shapes mainstream culture so sometimes it can feel like we’re everywhere - but actually when it comes to positions of leadership and ownership - femal…

What do you think of when you think of shelter? Have you even thought about what it means or what it’s meant to do? Is it just something that provides immediate protection from the elements? And what…

When is enough is enough? When is adapting no longer the appropriate response? When do people stop adapting because of their resilience and say we’ve had enough and we need to do something to change …

This is the 3rd and final instalment on the series of discussions on race, class and education in the UK. It only felt right to interview the person who is the reason I am who I am, who has shaped th…

I’m delighted to bring to you part 2 of our 3-part series on race, class and education in the UK. This week we’re joined by historian Dr Michael Taylor, author of what I’m calling ‘required reading’ …

Today’s episode is the first of a 3-part discussion on race, class and education in the UK. A 3-part conversation that really is the basis for the theme of season 3 - arts, anti racism and social cha…

In this week’s episode of HUTL, we’re talking art, access and representation with art historian, writer, curator and director of London’s Chisenhale Gallery Dr. Zoe Whitley.

We talk about the importan…

It’s great to be back and with the first episode of season 3, a season dedicated to the arts, creativity and social change. 

My guest today is serial entrepreneur, investor, tech executive, CEO and Fo…

Welcome to Season 3 of Holding up the Ladder

In the few months between the end of season 2 and the start of season 3 it seems the world isn’t calming down any time soon - in fact in many ways, it feel…

And so we come to the end of Season 2! And what a season it’s been. I would normally have another wonderful guest to come and share their process with us, but this time I wanted to do something a lit…

We talk about access to musical education, about bridging the gap between classical music and other musical genres. We talk about the role of arts in society, about creating safe spaces, safe spaces …

Today, we’re talking about the future - about creating a world we haven’t yet seen and a future that hasn’t yet been imagined. We’re talking about outside the box thinking, dreaming, playing, experim…

In this special bonus episode of Holding up the Ladder, we’re talking money! Money and the music industry. 

I’ve brought in some formidable women to talk about these issues and made a point of includi…

I’ve probably said this before but the thing I love most about music, apart from the music itself is who you get to meet through it, the relationships that are forged - I’ve made friends whom I now c…

In this week’s special bonus episode of Holding up the Ladder, we’re talking value systems and building creative community. I’ll be sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned/am learning over the past …